Chapter 102

Mark, a man of his word, immediately ordered someone to fetch the Seventh-Heaven Quince for Andrew.

Puzzled, Cedric asked, "Dr. Lloyd, the Seventh-Heaven Quince is highly toxic. What do you plan to do with it?"

Andrew replied casually, "Alchemy."

Cedric's eyes widened. "Dr. Lloyd, you practice alchemy?"

Andrew smiled modestly. "I know a thing or two."

"What's so special about this alchemy?" Mark asked, intrigued.

Cedric explained reverently, "Mr. Thatcher, alchemy is an ancient sacred art, passed down through generations of master healers. In some traditions, it's known as the art of creating elixirs. By combining rare ingredients and following secret formulas, one can create miraculous medicines. The medicinal pills from Mistveil Peak, for instance, are legendary throughout Etharia for their powerful effects and are worth a fortune!"

Mark stared at Andrew in amazement. "Mr. Lloyd, I had no idea you possessed such remarkable skills. I'm truly impressed."

Lauren added, "The Mistveil Peak pills are always in short supply. My grandfather tried many times to obtain some but always returned empty-handed. Also, only a handful of people in Etharia know the secrets of alchemy, and they're all backed by powerful families with legacies stretching back over a thousand years."

Her sparkling eyes fixed on Andrew, marveling at him. She'd already decided finding him was extraordinarily lucky, but now he seemed nothing short of miraculous.

Mark chuckled, breaking the silence. "For someone as skilled as Mr. Lloyd, a single Seventh-Heaven Quince feels inadequate. I should add something more to show my sincerity."

Cedric and Lauren exchanged knowing glances, understanding Mark's intentions. He clearly wanted to strengthen his connection with Andrew, and they couldn't blame him. Andrew's abilities were impossible to ignore.

Mark suggested casually, "Mr. Lloyd, since you aren't interested in money, let's chat about other matters. Just idle conversation, of course!"

He explained, "There's an undeveloped area on the west side of the city. The paperwork should be approved soon. It's a billion-dollar project…"

After a pause, he continued, "Jayrodale's pharmaceutical industry has some significant gaps. We recently decided to strongly support its development. The Weller family's influence has been declining sharply in recent years; their position isn't as stable as it used to be."

Mark sipped his tea, then smiled at Andrew. "Mr. Lloyd, I haven't revealed anything too important, have I? This is just casual conversation!"

Andrew chuckled, playing along. "Don't worry, Mr. Thatcher. We haven't heard a thing."

Cedric's face lit up. "Mr. Thatcher only has Jayrodale's development at heart. He wouldn't carelessly reveal important information. We're just having a friendly chat!"

Lauren added playfully, "Did Mr. Thatcher say something? I didn't hear anything. We were just discussing the weather, weren't we, Dr. Lloyd?"

Andrew smirked and nodded. "That's right, Ms. Rhodes. We were just discussing the weather."

Mark burst out laughing. "Exactly! And what lovely weather we're having today!"

Lauren's playful remark had everyone laughing, her charm effortlessly lightening the mood.